Hemingway Lake is a 65-acre mesotrophic lake in Lapeer County, Michigan. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Lapeer County, Hemingway Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Hemingway Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
Where to stay near Hemingway Lake
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Fishing Hemingway Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.9 m/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 8 lakes in Lapeer County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Hemingway Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Lapeer County
Explore Hemingway Lake across LakeGrade
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Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade C Lakes in Michigan
Genesee County · Clarity: 1.8 ft
Genesee County · Clarity: 3.8 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 9 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 7.3 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 8 ft
Oakland County · Clarity: 8.8 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hemingway Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hemingway Lake Dam (completed 1912), built primarily for recreation on the Hemmingway and Wipple Drain; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 65 ac
- Normal storage
- 700 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 875 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Hemingway Lake Home Owners Assn
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MI00294 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hemingway Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Columbiaville WwslColumbiaville · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MI0054810Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2023-09-06
Monitoring stations: 1